QCOSTARICA- The answer is “no”, the Ombudsman’s Office (Defensoría de los Habitantes) denying the current director of immigration, Kathya Rodríguez, an extension of her leave of absence to that institution.
Rodriguez has now to decide to either quit the Ombudsman’s Office to stay on as immigration director, a post she has held since 2010, or go back to her old job at the as Ombudsman’s Director of Children and Adolescent.
The Defensora de los Habitantes (Ombudswoman), Montserrat Solano, explained that in May 2015 an amendment was made to the statutes of the institution, that does not allow an extension.
Rodriguez faced a tumultuous period late last year and early this with the Cuban migrant crisis, while today is dealing with new group Cuban and African migrants stranded at the Panama border. Last week, the government announced it would allow the Africans entry into Costa Rica, to continue their journey north to Nicaragua and their final destination the United States.
According the deputy minister of the Interior (viceministra de Gobernación), Carmen Muñoz, following the decision announced by Solano, President Luis Guillermo Solis has been presented with several names to possible replace Rodriguez.
